January 12, 2012

TWO POEMS (2)


I

Ipil is harder to bear
without you
A leaf falls beside my hand;
already it is memory
like hours spent together
Grief at parting is like
A tear shed for a leaf,
pain assuaged
by the promise of a new bud
at the tip
but our friendship draws
its sustenance
from the rich soil of people’s war
It will continue to grow
and bear fruit
for the people.


               II

Yesterday I had a talk
with an old man
who had your eyes-
The same laughing squint
hiding a watchfulness
that catches even hints
of rainbows.
He spoke to me of patience
in his voice a whole season...
you have endured
the first minute
of your own dark season-
Ah, I can bear to think of it
only when I can see you smile!-
comrade, dear friend
teach me how not to flinch
through mine.


-  Ma. Lorena Barros  
   Collegian Folio, l975-l976